Twelve young ladies will contest the first ever ‘I’m a Big Deal’ pageant billed for Saturday November 18, at the Albion Sports Complex Ground.
Currently the contestants are undergoing training and will be collaborating with non-governmental organizations, government agencies and other small groups that will aid in bringing awareness to their platforms.
The brain behind the I’m a Big Deal Pageant is senior journalist and producer Royston Drakes, who said he saw the need for young women of Berbice county to be more empowered and to take up their rightful place in society and to be part of the solution in building Berbice. He further stated that this pageant will be a platform to help the women be the change they want to see as well as the best versions of themselves.
Royston who hails from Berbice noted that not much is happening for the youths there and the ‘I’m a Big Deal’ pageant will offer positive change.
Already, the contestants have visited schools and temples to raise awareness of education, suicide, youth empowerment and violence against women. One of them has managed to raise a sum of money that she plans on donating to an anti-suicide NGO. Just recently the pageant organizers and contestants collaborated with the St Francis Community Developers and held a cancer awareness luncheon.
This week, the Scene introduces these 12 Berbician beauties.
Shaquilla Sharpe is a 22-year-old resident of Limlair Village, Corentyne Berbice. This former student of J C Chandisingh Secondary is a youth volunteer and worked as a librarian a few years ago at the Kildonan Centre. This vibrant, intelligent and ambitious young woman’s dream is to become an attorney-at-law. Her platform is ‘Society’s Influence on Women.’ Shaquilla’s hobbies include reading, writing, volunteering, travelling and meeting new people.
Denica Henry is a passionate, charismatic, hardworking, team player. This 20-year-old Bloomfield Village resident is a first-year associate degree in Social Work student at the niversity of Guyana Berbice Campus. She is a former arts student of the New Amsterdam Multilateral Secon-dary. Her platform is ‘Mental Health Awareness.’ Denica is a youth ambassador with the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club and Come Alive Network Inc.
Jinnela Walker is an ambitious, smart and talented young lady who is a teacher at the Business School in New Amster-dam. This 17-year-old New Amsterdamer enjoys singing and swimming. She is an aspiring obstetrician. Her platform is focused on building women’s self-esteem.
Kelisha Ramotar is a 19-year-old resident of Guyana’s smallest town, Rose Hall. This meticulous highly dedicated and passionate individual takes pride in her commitment to excellence and professionalism. She enjoys entertaining herself and others by dancing reading, modelling, and acting. She is a former student of Corentyne Comprehensive High and hopes to become a registered nurse. Her platform is Domestic Violence.
Seventeen-year-old Tatiana Lancaster is a proud resident of Rose Hall Town. She is a first-year student at the University of Guyana pursuing an associate degree in Social work. Her platform focuses on global warming awareness. She is working to raise awareness of the devastating effects this issue has on Guyana and the world at large.
Seeta Dalloo is an 18-year-old resident of Blairmont, West Bank Berbice. She is a first-year student at the University of Guyana, Berbice Campus, pursuing an associate degree in Social Work. Her dream is to become an attorney-at-law. Seeta enjoys reading, dancing, and sports. Her latform is youth eEmpowerment.
Chelcia Gobin is a 20-year-old resident of Rose Hall Town. She currently works as a sales clerk but her dream is to become a registered nurse. Her hobbies are cooking and meeting new people. Her platform is peer pressure.
Farah Valentina Bates is 18 years of age and resides in the vibrant town of Rose Hall. This young, exuberant aspiring entrepreneur, is currently pursuing a diploma in public management at the University Guyana, Berbice Campus. She is a graceful dancer, avid reader and a competitive lover of sports. She has decided to stand firm on a foundation of passion to spread the word about suicide awareness and prevention.
Tracy Griffith is a 23-year-old talented respectful articulate, charismatic young lady. She is an aspiring executive director, currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in public management at the University of Guyana, Berbice Campus. She hails from the peaceful town of New Amsterdam. Her platform is child abuse.
Atasha Pantlitz is a 17-year-old student at the Upper Corentyne Industrial Training Centre. Her hobbies are reading, singing, dancing and meeting new friends. She’s also an exceptional athlete. She one day hopes to become an immigration officer. Atasha resides at Princetown, Corriverton. Her platform is HIV/AIDS.
Clendolita Lashley is as a trustworthy individual with a pleasant personality. This 19-year-old resides at Williamsburg Village. She attended the Corentyne Comprehensive High School. She enjoys reading, listening to music and interacting with people. Her dream is to become a teacher and her platform is education.
Lottia Williamson is currently an English major at the University of Guyana. She loves graffiti, painting, reading and travelling and volunteering. This 30-year-old New Amsterdamer’s platform is violence against women. This is an issue that is very close to home for her since one of her younger sisters was doused with acid by the father of her children recently.
The pageant will be hosted by Capitol News Online Editor Tracey Khan-Drakes, television personality Joel Ghansham and HGPTV News Reporter Royden James. I’m a Big Deal will also see the likes of Chutney Singer out of Berbice, Bunty Singh, flex off by popular body builders, dances songs and drama.
Activities leading up to the pageant include a march past, family fun day and a dinner and gala.
It promises to be one of the most exciting pageant experiences Berbice has ever seen and will be packed with fun for the whole family with entertainment from local stars.
Pageant will commence at 6 pm.
Tickets cost $1,000 and are available at Office Express/Ram’s & Shav’eh Resturant and Lounge at Portuguese Quarters, Port Mourant; Poonai Pharmacy, Rose Hall Town; Candy Shop, Pitt Street, New Amsterdam and Sparkle Supermarket, Ulverston Village, Corentyne. Some $500,000 is up for grabs in cash and prize.
